Artificial leg



April 27, 1937. H. BARGHAUSEN ARTIFICIAL LEG Filed Aug. 25, i956 2 SheetsSheet l lou z'a H BawyZcz wsen Appil 275 1937- H. BARGHAUSEN ARTIFICIAL LEG Filed Aug. 25, 1956 2 SheetsShe et 2 In! QQQ.

Patented Apr. 27, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 17 Claims.

The invention relates generally to artificial limbs and primarily seeks to provide a novel universal or standardized knee by which the thigh and shank sections of large classes or groups of limbs may be articulated in a convenient and efiicient manner, and by employment of which strength and durability are assured and perfect socket fit and limb alinement are greatly facilitated.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide a novel knee plate having a shallow upstanding circular collar to adjustably fit a mounting socket in the lower extremity of the thigh sec tion, and an abutment flange to abut said section extremity, said plate being disposed substantially in the plane occupied by the knee bolt axis whereby to adapt the plate to eificient use regardless of the length of the stump to which the limb is to be applied.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel means for applying friction to the knee joint for, in a measure, controlling relative movement of the limb sections.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel means for locking the friction applying devices in adjusted positions.

Another object of the invention is toprovide a novel removable knee cap equipment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel knee check equipment.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out hereinafter.

This application is a continuation in part of the application for Letters Patent, filed by me on August 26, 1935, Serial No. 37,999.

To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends, the invention still further resides in the novel details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all of which will be first fully described in the following detailed description, then be particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a detail vertical cross section illustrating portions of the thigh and shank sections of the limb articulated by the improved standardized knee;

Figure 2 is a transverse section of the parts shown in Figure l, the section being taken through the axis of the knee bolt;

Figure 3 is an inverted perspective View of the knee plate;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the knee cap;

Figure 5 is a. fragmentary transverse section of the knee plate welded to a metal thigh section;

Figure 6 is a detail vertical cross section illustrating portions of a thigh and a shank section articulated by a modified form of the improved knee;

Figure 7 is a transverse section of the parts shown in Figure 6, the section being taken through the axis of the knee bolt;

Figure 8 is a horizontal section taken on the line 88 on Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a detail inverted plan view of the knee plate;

Figure 10 is a detail perspective view of the knee plate;

Figure 11 is a detail perspective view illustrating the knee cap members dismounted but connected one to the other;

Figure 12 is a detail perspective view of one of the friction applying members;

Figure 13 is a detail perspective view of the friction locking member;

Figure 14 is a fragmentary face View and part section of the knee plate illustrating the mounting of the check bumper;

Figure 15 is a diagrammatic plan view illustrating one method of trimming the thigh section for alignment purposes; and

Figure 16 is a diagrammatic horizontal section illustrating adjustments of the thigh section about the vertical axis of the knee plate.

In Figures 1 to 5 of the drawings, I have illustrated one form of standardized knee by which the thigh and shank sections of the improved limb are pivotally joined and wherein 5 designates the thigh section and 6 the lower or shank section. The sections are pivotally connected by a knee bolt 1 which passes through the usual side arms 8 riveted or otherwise secured as at 9 to the shank section, and the novel universal knee equipment constructed and connected to the thigh section in the novel manner soon to be described.

The knee equipment includes a knee plate I0, the lower face of which lies in the plane of the axis of the bolt 1, and the plate includes an upstanding collar or flange II which is circular in horizontal cross section and snugly fits the circular bore l2 provided in the lower end of the thigh section 5. The flange ll includes a bracing and securing portion I3 which projects upwardly from the posterior portion thereof, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.

The knee plate In includes a pair of half-cylindrical depressions or recesses M which are lined with raw hide or similar soft material I5 and together form a half bearing for the knee bolt 1.

Projecting from beneath the plate H3 and 'cast integrally therewith posteriorly as at It is a pair of resilient clamping ears or half bearing members IT. The bearing members H are suitably lined as at it and oppose the bearing portions i4 and complete the bearings for the bolt 1. Apertured clamping ears I9 extend from the free end of each resilient bearing member I! and clamping screws 28 pass through the apertures in the ears and into tapped bores in the plate It. By reason of the frictional engagement of the bearing equipment just described, a frictional knee bolt bearing is provided, and by adjusting the.

screws 29 the degree of friction resisting relative pivotal movement of the limb sections 5 and 6 may be varied to accord with the natural gait of the wearer.

Between the bearing portions It, the knee plate it is cut out as at 2| to accommodate the hub portion 22 of the knee check which surrounds the knee bolt. The knee check proper designated 23 includes a bracket extension 24 disposed anteriorly of the knee bolt and equipped with a roller 25 under which the bight 26 of the support and control strap passes. The ends of the strap pass out of the thigh section through suitable openings in the anterior and posterior walls thereof and connect with the support and control belt in a manner to be described later. The body portion of the knee check extends downwardly-posteriorly and is secured at 27 to the posterior wall of the shank section. A- brace portion 28 is formed integrally with the knee "check and extends anteriorly from the base of the check and is secured to the anterior wall or" the shank section at 29. The pecu iar shaping of the knee check provides a knee cap clearing recess 30 when the limb sections are alined as shown in Figure 1. This novel arrangement enables the use of a knee cap having a minimum of opening therein.

The check lug portion of the knee check engages a bumper block 3! of suitable cushioning material which may be removably attached to the knee plate by dovetail equipment indicated at 32.

The knee plate It is extended beyond the collar H toform seat flanges or abutments33 for the end of the thigh section 5. See Figure 1. Thesefeatures provide outstanding advantages in reducing the cost of manufacture of the improved limb and in facilitating the fitting of the limb and its assembly. These advantages will become apparent as the description progresses. The knee plate is secured to the thigh section by suitable screws 34 which pass through the walls of the thigh sections and enter threaded bores in the collar H and the extension I 3' thereof as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

This form of standard knee is completed by the application of a one-piece shell-like knee cap member 35 shown in detail in Figure 4. This member comprises a hollow body terminating in an outwardly bevelled knee plate engaging edge 36 of the same contour as that of the knee plate so that when they are assembled they will present a smooth unbroken exterior. The knee plate is provided with a bevelled groove 31 to receive the knee cap edge, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, and securing screws 38 passing through apertures in the knee plate and into tapped bores in receiving lugs 39 formed in the cap serve to removably secure the knee cap in assembled relation.

By reason of the direction of the edge bevel 36,

blows which are directed against the knee cap.

will be distributed to the heavier knee plate in a manner tending to compact the cap rather than to spread and split the same as would be the case if the bevel was directed outwardly instead of inwardly as shown.

Abutment nuts 49 preferably are mounted on the screws and turned up against the knee plate when the parts are assembled so as to distribute to the heavier knee plate the force of any damaging blows directed against the knee cap. The screws 38 are thus made to serve as supporting columns, as well as securing devices.

. The knee cap is provided with knee bolt straddling recesses t! and a knee check accommodating opening 32, the latter being reduced to the minimum in size because of the novel shape of the knee check member 23. Suitable elongated guide bores 43 also are formed in the cap to provide access to the friction adjusting screws 28 and for guiding the implement by which the adjustment is made.

In Figure 5 of the drawings "there is shown a modification in which the knee plate is equipped with a flange 43 coextensive in shape with the plate instead of circular as hereinbefore described. Upon this fiange a metal thigh section 45 is welded, the thigh section and flange being suitably bevelled at to facilitate this connection.

In Figures 6t!) 14 there is shown another form of the improved standard knee in which ll designates the thigh section and 48 the lower or shank section. The sections are pivotally'con nected through the medium of a knee bolt 39- which passes through the usual side arms 50 riveted or otherwise secured as at to the shank section, and the modified knee equipment con structed and connected to the thigh section in: the novel manner soon to be described.

The knee equipment includes a knee plate 52, the lower face of which lies in the plane of the axis of the bolt 19, and the plate includes an upstanding collar or flange 53 which is circular in horizontal cross section and snugly fits the circular bore 5% provided in the lower end of the thigh section 4?. The flange 53 includes a plurality of extension fingers 55. which project upwardly from the posterior portion of said flange as shown in Figures 7 and 10 of the draw-- ings. and two short, the short fingers being disposed laterally and the long fingers being disposed intermediately of the short fingers. The members 55 project upwardly within and contact the wall of the thigh section bore 5 5 and are thinenough to be slightly yieldable for a purpose that will become apparent as the description progresses.

The knee plate 52 includes a pair of half cylindrical depressions or recesses 56 which are lined with raw hide or similar soft material 5'! and together form a half bearing for the knee bolt 19. Antericrly of and adjacent each bearing portion 56 the knee plate 52 is provided with a fulcrum socket 58 adapted to receive a pivot lug extension 59 of a bearing member 6E See Figures 6, 9, and 12. The members 80 are shaped and suitably lined as at 6! to oppose andcomgplots the bearings for the knee bolt 493, andthey include tapped ears 62 for receiving the adjustment screws G3 which pass through apertures 63 in the knee plate 52. By reason of the frictional engagement of the bearing equipment 55, 5? and 56, iii with the knee bolt 49, a frictional knee bolt bearing is provided, and by adjusting Four such fingers'are provided, two longthe screws 63 the degree of friction resisting relative pivotal movement of the limb sections 41 and 48 may be varied at will.

In order to avoid unintentional misadjustment of the knee bolt friction bearing the heads of the screws 63 are cross-slotted as indicated in Figure 8 to receive the spring lock fingers 54 which extend laterally from a lock wire body formed into a loop 65 intermediate its ends, said loop being secured to the knee plate 52 by the screw 65. When it is desired to adjust the bearing friction the wire ends 64 may be lifted out of the screw head slots so that the screws may be adjusted and after the adjustment is complete, replacement of said ends in the screw head slots will again lock the screws against movement.

Between the bearing portions 56 the knee plate 52 is cut out as at 61 to accommodate the hub portion 58 of the knee check which surrounds the knee bolt. The check lug proper designated 89 includes a bracket extension it disposed anteriorly of the knee bolt 49 and equipped with a roller 7% under which the bight E2 of the support and control strap passes. The ends of the strap l2 pass out of the thigh section of the limb through suitable openings in the anterior and posterior walls thereof and connect with the support and control belt. The body portion '13 of the knee check extends down into the shank section of the limb where it is secured to the posterior wall as indicated at M.

The check lug as engages a check bumper 15 preferably composed of a rubber block encaset in a strip 76 of raw hide, the ends of the strip being brought together and extended anteriorly as indicated in Figure 6 of the drawings. The bumper is mounted in a recessed seat l3 formed in the flange 18 extending anteriorly from the knee plate 52 and defined laterally by side walls which are undercut or dove-tailed as at '59 to retain the bumper in place. To further insure against shifting of position of the bumper 75, the ends of the encasing strap 16 may be tacked to the overhanging end of the thigh section 4'! as indicated at 85. See Figures 6 and 14.

The knee plate 52 is also equipped with anteriorly and posteriorly extended seat flanges 8! which form abutment seats for the end of the thigh section 4?. See Figures 6 and 10. In preparing and fitting an artificial limb embodying the invention, the shank section and foot are formed in the usual manner and the improved universal or standardized knee equipment is mounted upon or connected with the shank section 43 as illustrated in Figures 6 and '7 of the drawings. The thigh section is roughed out, equipped at its lower end with the cylindrical bore 54 for snugly receiving the knee plate flange 53, and is suitably socketed as dictated by the needs of the prospective wearer.

Thus prepared, the thigh section is moimted upon the knee plate flange 53 in abutment with the seat flanges 8!, and the limb thus temporarily assembled can be applied to the prospective wearer and suitably tested. The snug fit of the thigh section upon the upstanding collar 53 should be sufiicient to enable such a test, but if desired, one or more temporary screws may be applied to prevent separation of the thigh section from the knee plate. Should it be found necessary to adjust the direction of projection of the foot so as to toe out or toe in, the thigh section 41 and flange 53 may be moved relatively in the direction necessary as indicated in Figure 16 so as to make the foot adjustment desired.

Should it be found that the leg needs to be shortened, straightened or bowed, the thigh section may be shortened or tilted as may be necessary by applying the end thereof to a sand wheel 82 as indicated in Figure 15, thus enabling the end wall of the thigh section 41 to properly abut the plate flanges 81 in the desired new position. In effecting these readjustments of position the finger extensions 55 of the collar or flange 53 yield sufficiently to accommodate the realinement of parts.

After the limb sections have been properly alined and adjusted to the needs of the wearer,

the thigh section 41 may be secured upon theknee plate by the use of suitable screws 83 which pass through the walls of the thigh section and enter taps 84 in the flange 53 as illustrated in Figures 6 and 8 of the drawings.

The improved knee equipment is completed by the application of shell-like knee cap members 85 shown in detail in Figure 11 of the drawings. The half shell members are recessed as at 86 to take in or surround the plate flanges 8| and I8 and to enable them to abut and form a neat joint with the end of the thigh section 41. The members 85 are individually-removably secured to the knee plate 52 through the medium of tapped ears or lugs 81 formed on said members and securing screws 88 which pass through suitable apertures in said plate and enter said ears or lugs.

The half members 85 are shaped so as to together form a slotway 89 for accommodating changes in position of the knee check body 13. The edges of the members 85 meet anteriorly as shown at 90 in Figure 11 of the drawings and one said edge is equipped with a lateral extension or lug 9! which overlaps the other edge, and a securing screw 92 passes through an aperture in the overlapped edge and into a receiving tap in the' lug for the purpose of holding the edges in assembled relation.

It will be noted that the lower face of the knee plate 52 lies in the same plane with the axis of the knee bolt 49 and that the vertical axis of the flange or collar 53 intersects said axis. By reason of this relation of the parts adjustment and alinement of the thigh section is greatly facilitated as hereinbefore described and a rugged and durable structure is assured in which breaking strains are practically eliminated. The knee equipment is standardized for large ranges or classes of individuals and by reason of the fact that the thigh and shank sections alone need be shaped to fit the requirements of a particular wearer, the time consumed and the cost occasioned in the equipment and fitting of artificial limbs is materially reduced.

The knee plate and the knee caps 85 are preferably formed of a suitable metal which is very light and strong, but it is to be understood that other materials may be employed if desired. For example, the individually removable knee caps 85 may be formed of bakelite, celluloid, wood, hard rubber or the like.

I claim:

1. In an artificial limb, a shank section, a thigh section having in its lower extremity a substantially vertical cylindrical bore, and a knee forming a pivotal connection between said sections; said knee including a pivot bolt, a knee plate disposed substantially in a plane including the axis of the bolt and having a centrally disposed control device accommodating opening, control de vices operable in said opening, a shallow cylindrical collar upstanding from the plate and adjustably receivable in the thigh section bore, and flange equipment disposed substantially in the 5 plane of the plate externally of said collar and forming end abutment for said thigh section extremity.

2. In an artificial limb, a shank section, a thigh section having in its lower extremity a substantially vertical cylindrical bore, and a knee forming a pivotal connection between said sections; said knee including a pivot bolt, a knee plate disposed substantially in a plane including the axis of the bolt and having a centrally disposed control device accommodating opening, control devices operable in said opening, a shallow cylindrical collar upstanding from the plate and adjustably receivable in the thigh section bore, and flange equipment disposed substantially in the 0 plane ,of the plate externally of said collar and forming end abutment for said thigh section extremity, the common axis of said bore and collar intersecting the axis of said bolt.

3. In an artificial limb, a shank section, a thigh 2 section having in its lower extremity a substantially vertical cylindrical bore, and a knee forming a pivotal connection between said sections; said knee including a pivot bolt, a knee plate disposed substantially in the plane including the axis of the bolt and having a centrally disposed control device accommodating opening, control devices operable in said opening, a shallow cylindrical collar upstanding from the plate and adjustably receivable in the thigh section bore, flange equipment disposed externally of said collar and forming end abutment for said thigh section extremity, and flexible fingers upstanding from said collar and engageable in said bore.

4, In an artificial limb a knee plate comprising a flat body having an upstanding collar insertable into a receiving bore in a thigh section and extended beyond said collar to form thigh section end abutment flanges, half-bearing recesses formed in said plate for receiving a pivot bolt andlpositioned whereby the plane of the plate will lie within the diameter of said bolt, and a pair of half bearing members secured to the plate in opposition to the recesses thereof to complete the bearing for said bolt and adjustable for applying variable frictional resistance to movement of said bolt.

5. In an artificial limb a knee plate comprising a fiat body having an upstanding collar insertable into a receiving bore in a thigh section and extended beyond said collar to form thigh section end abutment flanges, friction bearings carried by said plate for receiving a pivot bolt and positioned whereby the plane of the plate will lie within the diameter of said bolt, said bearings being adjustable for applying variable frictional resistance to movement of said bolt, and means including slotted screws and lock pin equipment engageable with the slots of the screws to prevent rotation thereof and thus lock adjustments of said friction.

6. In an artificial limb a knee plate comprising a flat body having an upstanding collar insertable into a receiving bore in a thigh section and extended beyond said collar to form thigh section end abutment flanges, half-bearing recesses formed in said plate for receiving a pivot bolt and positioned whereby the plane of the plate will lie within the diameter of said bolt, and a pair of half-bearing members'secured in opposition to the recesses thereof to complete the bearing for said bolt each at one end by a fulcrum connection and at its other end by an adjustment screw whereby variable frictional resistance to movement of said bolt may be applied.

7. In an artificial limb a knee plate comprising a flat body having an upstanding collar insertable into a receiving bore in a thigh section and extended beyond said collar to form thigh section end abutment flanges, half-bearing recesses formed in said plate for receiving a pivot bolt and positioned whereby the plane of the plate will lie within the diameter, of said bolt, a pair of halfbearing members secured in opposition to the recesses thereof to complete the bearing for said bolt each at one end by a fulcrum connection and at its other end by a slotted adjustment screw whereby variable frictional resistance to movement of said bolt may be applied, and a lock wire secured intermediate its ends to said plate and having its free ends removably receivable in the slots of said screws for locking the friction adjustments.

8. In an artificial limb, a shank section, a thigh section having in its lower extremity a substantially vertical cylindrical bore, and a knee forming a pivotal connection between said sec tions; said knee including a pivot bolt, a knee plate disposed substantially in a plane, including the axis of the bolt, a shallow cylindrical collar upstanding therefrom and adjustably receivable in the thigh section bore, flange equipment disposed externally of said collar and forming end abutment for said thigh section extremity, and a knee cap removabiy secured to said plate, said cap overlying the edges of said plate and forming a smooth continuation of said thigh section.

9. In an artificial limb, a shank section, a thigh section having in its lower extremity a substantially vertical cylindrical bore, and a knee forming a pivotal connection between said sections; said knee including a pivot bolt, a knee plate disposed substantially in a plane, including the axis of the bolt, a shallow cylindrical collar upstanding therefrom and adjustably receivable in the thigh section bore, flange equipment disposed externally of said collar and forming end abutment for said thigh section extremity, and a knee cap removably secured to said plate, said cap being formed in two individually removable sections and overlying the edges of said plate and forming a smooth continuation of said thigh section.

10. In an artificial limb a knee plate comprising a flat body having an upstanding collar insertable into a receiving bore in a thigh section and extended beyond said collar to form thigh section end abutment flanges, an undercut check bumper receiving socket formed in one of said flanges, half-bearing recesses formed in said plate for receiving a pivot bolt and positioned whereby the plane of the plate will lie within the diameter of said bolt, and means removably mounted on 1sJaid plate for completing the bearings for said olt.

11. In an artificial limb, a shank section, a thigh section having in its lower extremity a substantially vertical cylindrical bore, and a knee forming a pivotal connection between said sections; said knee including a pivot bolt, a knee plate, disposed substantially in a plane, including the axis of the bolt, a shallow cylindrical collar upstanding therefrom and adjustably receivable in the thigh section bore, and flange equipment disposed substantially in the plane of the plate externally of said collar and forming end abutment for said thigh section extremity; a check bumper socket formed in a portion of said flange equipment, a check bumper disposed in and projected beyond said socket, and means to secure the projected end of the bumper to the extremity of said thigh section.

12. In an artificial limb, a shank section, a thigh section having in its lower extremity a substantially vertical cylindrical bore, and means i for articulating said sections including a pivot bolt and a knee plate comprising a fiat body disposed substantially in a plane including the axis of said bolt, a shallow cylindrical collar adjustable in said bore, flange equipment disposed externally of said collar and forming end abutment for said extremity, half-bearing recesses formed in said plate for receiving said bolt, a pair of half-bearing members secured to the plate in opposition to the recesses and adjustable for engaging the bolt with variable friction, means supported by the plate for locking the variable friction, a check bumper socket formed in a portion of said fiange equipment, a check bumper disposed in said socket, a knee check connected with the bolt and the shank section and projected for engagement with the bumper, and a knee cap removably secured to said plate and shaped to overlie the edges of the plate and form a smooth continuation of said thigh section, said cap being slotted to accommodate movement of said check.

13. In an artificial limb, a shank section, a thigh section, a knee forming a pivotal connection between said sections, said knee including a pivot bolt, a knee plate secured to the thigh. section and disposed substantially in a plane including the axis of the bolt and haveo ing an inwardly bevelled groove in the outer edge of its bottom face, and a shell-like knee cap seated in said groove and removably secured to said plate.

14. In an artificial limb, a shank section, a 45 thigh section, a knee forming a pivotal connection between said sections, said knee including a pivot bolt, a knee plate secured to the thigh section and disposed substantially in a plane including the axis of the bolt and having an in 50 wardly bevelled groove in the outer edge of its bottom face, and a shell-like knee cap seated in said groove, and elongated screw means for removably securing said cap to the plate and comprising thrust absorbing columns.

15. In an artificial limb, a shank section, a thigh section, a knee forming a pivotal connection between said sections, said knee including a pivot bolt, a knee plate secured to the thigh section and disposed substantially in a plane including the axis of the bolt and having a centrally disposed control device accommodating opening, control devices operable in part in said opening, a friction bearing for the bolt disposed at each side of said opening and including screw means for adjusting the degree of friction imposed, and a shell-like knee cap removably secured to said plate and including elongated screw driver guide bores alined with said friction adjusting screw means.

16. In an artificial limb, a shank section, a thigh section, a knee forming a pivotal connection between said sections, said knee including a pivot bolt, a knee plate secured to the thigh section and disposed substantially in a plane including the axis of the bolt and having a centrally disposed control device accommodating opening, control devices operable in part in said opening and including a knee check, said knee check comprising a body portion positioned within and anteriorly and posteriorly secured to said shank section, and a check portion extending anteriorly upwardly in spaced relation to the portion anteriorly secured to the shank section and includ ing a portion embracing the pivot bolt, a control strap bight receiving crank and a check lug, and a shell-like knee cap removably secured to said plate and having a slotway of limited length through which said check extension passes and a portion operable in the space between said spaced check portions.

17. An artificial limb knee comprising a flat body having an upstanding collar adapted to be secured in a thigh section receiving opening and extended beyond said collar to form thigh section end abutment flanges, knee bolt bearing equipment carried by said plate in a position whereby the plane of the plate lies substantially within the diameter of said bolt, a knee bolt mounted in said bearing equipment, a knee cap removably secured to said plate and forming a flush continuation of the edge thereof, and a knee check mounted on the bolt and engageable with the plate and extended from the knee cap for attachment to a shank section.

LOUIS HERMAN BARGHAUSEN. 

